The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1887-08-07
4 NEW scRLPTURAL DRAMA.

Wetseka was named from Q romantic

From de cataapo Ttou.a
Watseka was named from q romantic In
dian maiden who lost her heart long years ago
to Chicago's early pioneer. Gurdon 3. Hub
a july day the Great Sahara may be as hot, but
IL certainly no hotter. than the county seat OF
Iroquois county. Ill. It is also favored spot
odists both black and white, hold very success
full meetings Of that kind in the groves near
a1 sae see E'n
los IL the s sRs S he African Methodists have
Tonight in blaze OF hallelujas. Al day long
s ss PsoPs hss sf9f
their Sunday best locked to the grounds. for
sion play called the Return Of the Prodigal,"
and all were alert to see 1t,
Three O'Clock was the hour appointed for
the afternoon service. Of the close OF which the
time approached the people began 70 gather on
until 1s i every ESH seat was led. Many more were
STANDING and encircling g, the whole was a 2
81 he Shes
blacks, but here and there patch OF blacks
could be seen. On the front seat were two
lions and impulsive amens. and veritable
Black Joe. whom a minstrel performer
might have enyied leaned upon his stan as as
stand were Elders, ,Depugh and Davis and
the Rev. Fletcher Young and back Of them
r Es 81 d ten f Ths
commenced with the singing Of several 81 the
suf aay as Marsy Gw
I'm Bound for the Promised Land. Then
followed a prayer by Elder Davis IN which ref
s be sha
into the fold. To which Old Black Joe and the
aunties responded witt, loud amens. After
prodigal son and preached upon that subject.
The elder finally made an end OF 1t. and then
every neck IN tho vast audience was era ned
glimpse Of the drama to be enacted.
Some little hitch in the performance occurred
Just at this point through the inattentiveness
OF the call boy. who fingered too long near the
refreshing pop stand and forgot to signal the
distant prodiga. i was remedied soon. how;
ever. but not before there was al audible growl
was Impending Then was seen coming up
da s ts al H sattersd and torn Wien brother
Young caught sight Of him he went out from
the stand lodging and peering and scrutiniz.
intenssnsss. Finally be recognized him as his
long-lost son, and rushed toward him and fell
Sppth n Hopping s down on the ground TGeyH re-.
through the crowd, Brother Young shouting at
Is This is my son, who WAS lost and is foundl"
They made their way TO the stand and were
cordially welcomed. There q white robe was
brought out and put on the young man. u ring
placed on his finger, and Brother Young an
bounced that the fntted calf should be killed.
Last year they actually brought out u poor
forlorn little calf and slaughtered it on the
platform. but this extremely realistic bit pro-
duced such unpleasant results. women screnm-
ing and fainting. that this part was omitted TO-
day.
During all this performance tbs, crowd
laughed and cheered till they made the grove
resound. Then tho singers on the stage stood
up and sung u song entitled The Prodigal
sion. Mr.. Young Is the dramatizer. 30 to speak,
OF the parable, II having first been performed
under his auspices last year on these grounds.
1t has since met with great success in the va
rious places where 1t has been given.